Google, Univ. of Tokyo to launch AI project to solve regional issues

Google LLC said Wednesday it will collaborate with the University of Tokyo to launch an initiative that uses generative artificial intelligence to address challenges faced by local communities in Japan, such as a shrinking workforce, with successful models to be rolled out nationwide by 2027.

Yutaka Matsuo, a professor at the university known for being a leading figure in AI research, will be involved in the project, which will first be piloted in Osaka and Hiroshima prefectures, Google said at a technology conference in Tokyo.

Students who have completed courses in Matsuo’s laboratory will work with Google engineers to construct generative AI models to solve specific issues.

In Osaka, the focus will be on resolving employment mismatches due to skews in the types of professions that job seekers prefer. A successful model, for example, would be able to suggest positions that job seekers themselves may not have realized were suitable, or illustrate ideal career paths leading to a desired job.

Unlike existing job placement agencies like Hello Work, proposals will be drawn from the vast data available online.

The focus for Hiroshima remains to be decided. Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki, who spoke at the conference, stated his intention to “declare a future paved by AI,” suggesting that the technology may be able to generate precise responses to inquiries about relocating.

According to Google, generative AI could potentially be used to enhance medical care systems on remote islands and automate tasks in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

“Effectively (utilizing generative AI) could be a significant opportunity for Japan,” Matsuo said.

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